Automobile jack



J1me 1943. M. JENSEN 2,321,602

AUTOMOBILE JACK Filed Aug. 26, 1.941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Attorney June 15, 1943. M. JENSEN AITITOMOBILE JACK Filed Aug. 26, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A ttomejy Patented June 15,1943

UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE" AUTOMOBILE JACK Marthinus Jensen, Greenwich, Conn. Application August 26,1941, Serial N0. 408,396

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in automobile jacks and particularly to a portable jack especially adapted for facilitating the changing of wheels and tires on the road and under-adverse light conditions, and the primary object of my invention is to provide a simple and efllcient knock-down arrangement of the character indicated which when assembled and disposed relative to the wheel or tire to be handled. gives a correct alignment of the jack screw with the axle with provision of ramp means up which the wheel is to be run to achieve such alignment and assume an elevated condition with respect to the ground in which it may be held by the jack independent of the ramp.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description taken in connection with the appended drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary outboard side elevational view of the embodiment showing the same in operative relation to the wheel and axle of an automobile.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the assembled Jack.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 1 along the line 3--3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through the ramp means.

Figure 5 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the aligning and holding rods.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the present invention contemplates the provision of a ramp element generally designated 5 which may be a solid or a semi-solid body of generally elongated rectangular form with the top of one end portion inclined from its terminal end as indicated by the numeral 6 to an intermediate point designated by the numeral 1 to provide the necessary lift from the ground level 8 when the wheel 9 is run up on the ramp element. The remainder ofthe top of the ramp element is level except for a longitudinally and downwardly curved portion l0 whose opposite ends act as chocks to retain the wheel 9 in the depression. Where the ramp element is made of non-metallic material the depression [0 is preferably provided with a wear-resisting metallic surface H which may be either metal or suitable composition. A warning flag socket I2 is suitably placed in the ramp surface 6 so that the warning flag required by regulations in certain States may be displayed when the block is removed from under the jacked up wheel and the block'removed to a traflic warning position. 0n opposite sides of the upper'part of the 'rampportion 6 are provided sockets i3 and [4, respectively. adapted to mount a suitable bracket I5 to moun a flashlight It as indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings, to provide the necessary visible warning to traffic while using the device at night or under poor light conditions to afford light for repairs. If desired'the flashlight may be insertedin the hole l2.

As indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings the plate ll whichlines the depression i0 extends the full width of the ramp body and has at its opposite lateral edges depending flanges I! having fasteners l8 securing the same to the sides of the block, and with laterally outwardly and upwardly directed protective flanges l9 projecting from the lateral edges of the plate I I, with the upper edges thereof beaded as indicated by the numeral 20. The flanges l9 operate to guide the tire of the wheel 9 into proper position in the depression In and operate to confine the wheel on the ramp under adverse conditions.

The ramp body is provided with a transverse horizontal bore 2| slightly spaced under the depression l0 and intermediate the ends thereof to freely pass the jack operating rod 22 to which an extensible handle 23 may be attached by a conventional coupling 24. The rod 22 is freely rotatable and slidable in the bore 2| to reach and operate an operative connection 25 on the vertical screw jack which is generally designated 26 and which has extensible therefrom the jack screw 21 which is adapted to engage the axle or axle housing 28 on which the wheel 9 is supported, or other suitable part of the automobile for elevating the same to free the wheel 9 from the ground for wheel changing or tire changing operations. I The jack 26 includes a base 29 to rest on the ground 8, the body of the jack above said base being characterized by opposite horizontally bored lugs 30 and 3| which are adapted to receive the tapered ends 32 on the terminal end of the rod portion 34 of the tension aligning and holding rods 33. Suitable spring gripping means 35 is provided in the said'lugs to releasably hold the tapered ends of the rods 33. The opposite end portions of the rods 33 are bifurcated as indicated in Figure 5 of the drawings to provide the divergent spring legs 36 and 31 which have angularly and laterally directed terminal cap of the wheel like a screw driver. 4

The aligning and holding rods II are adapted to be pushed through tubes II and]! which are embedded in the ramp body adjacent the bottom thereof as indicated in Figures 8 and 4 until the spring legs II and I1 exert a holding tension on the interiors of, the tubes and require some substantial force to be exerted on the rods II to thereafter eflect removal or change of position. The rods II are thrust throu h the tubes 4i and 42 to engage in the bores in the lugs II and II to align and hold the jack II in the proper position relative to the wheel I so that when the operating rod, 22 is turned the same will operate the Jack or axle housing II.

3,821,002 tremities yhich may be-used to pry oi! tne'miiif' The ramp body is, provided with lateralli\ spaced longitudinal lined bores I and 44 to accept the aligning and holding rods II when the device is not in'use; and another plain bore 45 is provided between them'to hold the warning flag iI whilethe same is not in use, thereby mating a compact arrangement iorlstoring away in a convenient compartment .on the automobile until wanted for use. 7

It is obvious that utilization of the device of the invention is preferably practiced by running the selected wheel I up onthe ramp until it is in the depression II andthereby substantially elevated above the ground I and has its axle or the equivalent 28 in alignment with the screw of the Jack. The jack is then operated to bring the screw intoengagement with the axle or axle housing and to lift the same a sufiicient amount ,to make the wheel I clear the ramp. Thereupon'the ramp I mayberemovedandtheehsnseoiwheelortire made, following which the isckjl may be opqated by means or its optional Operative connecnnection tion II at right angles, to the other co ll, by means of the rod 22, to let the wheel down on the road surface I ready for travel, and the cept as may be required by the scope o! the sub I Joined claim.- r 7 Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

Vehicle wheel jacking apparatus comprising a ramp onto which the selected wheel of the vehicle is to be run to elevate the wheel and its axle or equivalent above I the road surface on which the ramp rests; va. jack to rest on said road surface at a point inboard of the wheel andhaving a vertically movable element to en age and lift said axle or equivalent, .iack'aligning' and holding means operatively connected between said ramp and said Jack to cause the vertically movable element of the Jack to be in alignment with said axle or equivalent when the said vehiclewheel is in position on the ramp. said Jack 

